I am the first to embrace imperfection. I have lived in old houses, been man-down because we have four kids, and loved our fair share of rescue animals (although I would argue that they are all practically perfect!).
But I would be lying if I said that, in this day and age, I didn’t get swept up in the… Read More
Imagine an elephant walking into your living room and taking a seat. For most of us that would take up a considerable amount of room. Yet according to the show “Clean Sweep”, that is the average weight of the stuff they take out of each and every home!
Photo by Chatsworth Consulting
Americans have a… Read More
Alright, in our last blog we hopefully got your attention about how important a good nights sleep can be! It can affect your decision making, health and safety!
This week we get to the good news! You can take some simple actions tonight to be on your way to feeling more rested, energized and creative!… Read More
There is nothing more dreamy than snuggling up under a down comforter with your favorite jammies ( or better yet sans jammies), a cool breeze, a dark room and nothing on your mind but sweet slumber. Sound familiar? Probably not as it turns out almost 80% of us Americans do not get enough… Read More
If you are anything like me you want timeless, simple design that doesn’t change with the wind, but I am still guilty of trolling Pinterest for a little bit of In the Moment Bling. A little goes a long ways and these trends are here to stay!
1. Deep Rich Saturated Colors
From Pantone, to… Read More
design by mandeville canyon designs
So, if you are anything like me you are conflicted. I am the first to admit that I love designing for the holidays, but the clutter makes me crazy. I feel like I am always one drop kick away from a Christmas Catastrophe!
“So goes your space, so goes your mind” A… Read More
First day of kindergarten to first day of college
Well, if your house is anything like ours, it’s been a week of excitement, anticipation, denial, and procrastination (yup at least one of my kids went to class today with just a pencil and a piece of notebook paper. My minimalist!)
Whether you are sending your last off to college (that… Read More
House Beautiful
So, every night about this time of year, I am lulled off to sleep by the gentle dance of the leafy trees, the breeze tickling my eyelashes and the hypnotic dance of crickets and cicadas. I rock gently in my porch bed, dreaming of, well sleeping in a porch bed.
Some day I will make my sleeping porch… Read More
With less than a week before we celebrate our nations independence, we couldn’t think of a better time to explore some fabulous color combinations featuring our country’s symbolic color palette.
photo courtesy of Contemporary Home Decoration
First a little history lesson into the meaning of these iconic colors…
White signifies Purity and Innocence
Red signifies Hardiness and Valor
photo… Read More
photo courtesy of Dreams Time
So, they say if you see, hear or speak something three separate times, it’s probably a good idea to pay attention to it. When it comes to color, it’s not hard to get my attention!
Yellow Chain Tree
From cheerful doors, to dramatic trees, playful furniture and wallpaper, and even a honey colored… Read More
So, truth be known, Father’s Day is not the easiest of holidays now that the kids are grown.Time was a tie cake or a minor league baseball game was a sure thing, now Time at all is a precious gift.
my gang circa 1998
As a design family any member is bound to be gifted a book on 1001 Chairs… Read More
Decks by Kiefer
We are in high outdoor gear here at Mandeville Canyon Designs. This summer includes a fabulous pool, some whimsical gardens and great new decks all around.
Now that it is unofficially officially summer, what could be better than enjoying a day of lounging around a new deck grilling and hanging out with friends, or curling… Read More
When it comes to dining rooms, I think there are 2 types of homeowners: those that love having a formal dining room for hosting family gatherings and large parties, and those who will maybe use the dining room table once or twice a year and spend the remainder of the year wondering what to do with that space so that… Read More
I was recently asked to offer some design insights for the year to come. Now, typical forecasting projects years into the future. Tricky stuff, at best. Instead I sort of like the ground troops approach, meaning what are my clients doing right now and what are they asking for? What makes sense for them now and years into the future. So, here are a few things we are working on for the coming year and hope to see continue into 2016…
~ We are seeing a trend in unplugging and going back to a Comfort- Style
A good friend who is a designer recently showed me her design boards for her brand new home. I couldn’t hide the look on my face that said, “On purpose? Isn’t this what we are trying to move away from?”
Before I could say anything, thankfully, she chimed in with enthusiasm, “It’s just like my grandmother’s house!”
“You say that like it’s a good thing”, I thought.
And then she did that magic thing that designers do, when they weave a tale that brings it all together.
She was hearkening back to a simpler time. White washed kitchens and warm brass knobs. Bold peonies and lattice on the walls, creamy bowls of white light and not a hand held device in sight
Courtesy of ESNY
It really was a brilliant plan. You would always walk in with a sense of belonging. Instant comfort.
Big bold patterns in wallpaper and gentle colors are gracing walls. Hand worn hues of gold are returning to lighting and hardware. Even Formica is in on the movement, but back with a whole new array of colors and styles.
Thibault Wallpaper
~We are seeing continued strength with white kitchens that are not truly white upon closer examination. Ben Moore’s color of the year, Simply White, is a great example of a white hint of something else.
Mandeville Canyon Designs fea. Karen Grant
Right now we are installing a new kitchen, with PK Surroundings, in California Paint Crisp Muslin. It’s white with a purpose.
It still reads fresh and comforting, but with it’s own personality.
~ Quartz countertops continue to be strong for their ease of use and unending array of mesmerizing palettes. We are using Cambria’s, Brittanicca, on that same white kitchen.
Courtesy of www.interiorsbystudiom.com
The dramatic ribbons of gray, black and bone allow great range of movement without overwhelming the space. Other great companies include Pental, Caesarstone and Silestone, just to name a few. Alternative materials like IceStone and Richlite, made out of paper are also durable and stylish choices with a great environmental backbone.
~Mixed metals are thankfully on the rise. I love the permission to mix up your metals in a space.
Anthropologie
Gone is the idea that every knob in your house has to be brushed nickel. There are so many fabulous metal finishes out there (the finishes from Brizo are warm and delicious),
Brizo, RSVP
starting with the long awaited rearrival of brass. With so many finishes to choose from, there is bound to be something that delights everyone of us.
Schoolhouse Electric
Right now we are using a beautiful collection of lighting from Hubbardton Forge that speaks to this concept perfectly. We are combining the soft gold finish (give us more in 2016, please!) with bronze for the Cosmo and then reinforcing the bronze with the Exos Collection.
From the Cosmo Collection, Hubbardton Forge
~Follow that up with another design trend, textured wallpaper, and you have an elegant, grounded and earthy vibe that works in both casual and sophisticated settings.
Maya Romanoff Weathered Metals II
Phillip Jeffries Rivet
We are using Maya Romanoff’s Weathered Metals II collection as well as Philip Jeffries Rivet collection. The trend is toward textural and tactile. The kind that begs you to reach out and touch.
And if that’s not enough how about some jewelry for the walls. Maya also offers a stunning collection of beaded wallpaper called Beadazzled.
Maya Romanoff Beadazzled
And even if you are renting, no worries, there are great new repositionable wallpapers that let everyone get in on the fun.
~Color palettes are continuing to mimic nature and also provide hits of high contrast.
Like mixing metals, do be afraid to mix your sheen as well. We are just about to install a grasscloth wallpaper combined with a high gloss chocolate ceiling to help reflect light as well as act as a conversation piece. Nature constantly combines shiny and matte. Why let it have all the fun!
Courtesy of New England Home
Have you ever walked into a room and were blown away by the mix of colors and/or patterns? When done correctly, a mix of patterns makes your room look like it’s been designed by a professional. So how do designers mix patterns so well? There are a few tried and true tricks that will help you pull of a well… Read More
I love when I have the opportunity to work on a clients’ landscape design. Partly because I love nature and incorporating as much of the surroundings as I can, but also because it’s amazing to see how it all transforms month after month, year after year.
Seasons are a beautiful thing. There’s nothing like seeing the outdoors come to life… Read More
It dawned on me recently that fall is a long season of décor. While I love to warm up my home with layers of snuggly blankets, pops of orange, pumpkins and hay bales; after a while I grow tired of it all. After all, I think the stores had the Halloween decorations and candy out some time in August!
So… Read More
With each season there comes an opportunity to clean and organize. Just as in the days of long ago, it’s still necessary to prepare our homes for the upcoming change in weather. We’re all familiar with spring cleaning, especially those of us who endure long winters and can’t wait to open the windows and get outside. But what about the… Read More
I’m at it once again…downsizing! And it feels so good! We once had a house full of kids, toys, animals, friends…to name a few! But as time has gone on, my babies have spread their wings and left the nest, taking all things associated with them. I’m left with the animals…! Well, that’s not exactly true. I still have my… Read More
Picture this: You’ve spent countless hours researching and designing your beautiful new kitchen with a stunning tile backsplash. You’re ready for the final touches. And your electrician installs the typical white, plastic outlet and switch plates.
It’s like the music stopped and you’re thinking to yourself, “What’s wrong with this picture? Something doesn’t look right.”
I’ll tell you what… Read More
